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The Successful Journey.

What determines a successful journey is very subjective and it really is determined on your outlook and what your terms of reference are.So there will be many that will disagree with the following and thats fine. Remember I’m always speaking from my perspective and what drives me, what inspires me and my passion and they will differ from each person. For me , a successful journey is not always capturing , however, when you have captured something special, then you know that it has been one of those adventures that will remain etched in your mind.

For me, when I see a subject, I will wait and wait until it happens and if it doesn’t happen on that day, then I try the next and so on. Many people don’t have the patience to wait and yes, it can be as boring as watching the grass grown in your back yard.I will gladly admit to that.

I’m often asked, “ how did you get that shot” and many variations of that question. There is no deep philosophical answer to that although I have heard some rant and rave on as if there is. The short and simple answer to get shots like this is to simply wait, being disciplined enough to wait and through your waiting study the habits of your subject which will help you in your shooting.

For this series of shots with the Australian Wedged tailed Eagle, it was one of those successful journeys that took place over 10 weeks. You see I have only selected a few of these pics from this series and these were all shot on film a few years ago.

This was shot in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. When I see nests, I’ll always climb and investigate if I can get up there and yes I’m sacred of heights and there have been times when I have made it to the top and then I have looked down and thought,” how on earth am I ever going to get down?”

I saw this tree, climbed it and saw two eggs in the nest. Now this bird usually lays two eggs but only brings up one of the babies and kicks the other over the edge when the time is right to get rid of it.

This nest was 850 kms from where I live. I travelled every Saturday for 10 weeks to document the growth of these birds.I witnessed many amazing and wonderful things in that time.

I was amazed when on one of my sessions with the bird, that there was a lambs head in the nest.They are a prime targets for the Eagle. The week before when I climbed the nest there as a large lizard waiting to be eaten. I Thought that made an amazing picture, then the following week I saw this image with the lamb.

This is how the wildlife kingdom works as we know.

Was my 10 week journey covering over 17,000 kilometers for this subject worth it. Absolutely! would I do it again?In a heart beat, no question!

I have no concept when you hop in a car and blaze the trail and spend a day in each location . For me I’d go nuts doing that .For me to do it that way you very rarely shoot the essence of the place. You rarely can do justice to where you are until you have spent a wee bit of time there and to understand how the light works with your subject etc.

Having said that, please if you are someone who travels like that and it works for you, thats awesome!!

If you want to get the best out of your subject, be prepared to put the time into it, to be patient and to return as often as it take and you to will know the successful journey.

“Nature, at least, didn’t need an operation to be beautiful. It just was.”Scott Westerfled

The Lilac – Breasted Roller

The African Hornbill

Author Pete Dobré

Pete's photography is self taught. As a young child photography was an interest. His passion for the varying landscapes of Oz comes from frequent visits as a youngster, to his Gandparent's sheep farm in Barmera, a small country town in South Australia.
Pete Dobré is a Freelance Photographer who blazes the trail for 6 months each year, capturing awe-inspiring images. Pete's work expresses his creative flair, emotions and love for the natural scapes of Australia.
He remembers the hot day when he was 8, leaving town for the farm. His parents had an old car. Within about 2 kilometres of reaching the farm gate, they were bogged on a small red sand dune. The flies were buzzing continuously and the heat was beating down. Sticks, leaves and branches were wedged under the back tyres, to get the car moving. His mum was in a panic but Pete thought that it was exciting. From that moment he knew that he loved being out in creation, with the sense of adventure in the wild. This is where Pete's passion began.
Photography for Pete is an expressive means for visual communication. He says, 'There is never a boring moment in my work. There is always something to photograph and I love being creative. The only limit to creativity is a lack of creativity.'
Pete's aim as a photographer is to present images that provoke and stimulate the mind, to capture God's awesome creation and to share this with others. If Pete can do a little justice to God's creativity, then he is quietly satisfied.
As a photographer Pete's inspiration and passion for his work comes from knowing God who created everything in the beginning. Knowing God, the Creator gives more substance and meaning to what he captures on film. Pete sees his role as freezing a moment in time and history which will never be repeated exactly the same again. The light, clouds and seasons will always be different. Pete's love for natural conditions at different times of the day, displaying varying moods and cloud formations makes his work very special and eye catching.